Cranbrook centre design “influenced by future users”

New, updated plans – which include a 25m swimming pool and group exercise studios – have been unveiled for the proposed Cranbrook Leisure and Wellbeing Centre in Devon.

East Devon District Council, which will own the centre, has worked with project managers and designers to develop proposals for the centre in Cranbrook town centre over the past 12 months.

The design work was based on a public consultation which received nearly 1,000 contributions, charting what future users wanted to see at the facility.

The strongest demand from the consultation was for a 25-metre swimming pool, gym and fitness suite, café and social spaces and exercise studios. People also said they wanted the building to “feel bright, welcoming and easy to navigate”.

According to Nick Hookway, East Devon District Council’s portfolio holder for Culture, Leisure, Sport & Tourism, the feedback has been taken into account in a number of the design elements.

“The feedback has helped shape the proposals and highlighted what matters most to people who will use the centre,” he said.

“The updated plans are now available to view, along with information showing how comments from the first survey have been considered and where possible improvements made.

“We are asking people to look again at the proposals and share their views through this second survey before the project moves to the next stage.”